Targeting Opponent Ahead of Early Voting
Jo Jeon-hyeok: "Are We Electing a Superintendent from the Japanese Colonial Era?"
Jung Geun-sik: "No Apology from School Violence Perpetrator"
Jo Proposes 'School Evaluation Agency', Jung Proposes 'Learning Diagnosis and Healing Center'
On the 10th, one day before the early voting day for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent by-election, each candidate launched a final all-out campaign by openly criticizing their opponents.
Cho Jeon-hyeok, the conservative candidate for Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent, stated at a press conference held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education that morning, "Regarding the corruption of former Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, he excused it by saying, 'It is regrettable that the law was violated, but that itself is not wrong,'" and claimed, "He has positioned himself as Cho's avatar." He described this election as "the result of former Superintendent Cho's recruitment corruption crime," emphasizing, "This election was held at a cost of 56 billion won in taxes due to the illegal recruitment by the former Superintendent Cho through the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (JeonGyoJo)."
Cho also criticized candidate Jeong Geun-sik, saying, "He confessed that he is ignorant of early childhood, elementary, and secondary education," and added, "Are we electing a superintendent from the Japanese colonial era?"
On the same day, Cho pledged to normalize Seoul education after 10 years. He promised to establish a 'School Evaluation Agency' under the Office of Education to measure and evaluate the educational capacity of schools. He also announced plans to create a 'Parents' Council' directly under the superintendent and to disclose educational information so that parents can assess the quality of educational services.
Additionally, he promised to revise the Student Human Rights Ordinance into the Student Rights and Duties Ordinance to strengthen students' obligations and responsibilities.
Progressive candidate Jeong responded in his policy presentation, stating, "If things continue like this, Seoul education will collapse. If things continue like this, we will enter the dark world of New Right." He also pointed out allegations of school violence by candidate Cho.
Jeong criticized, "There has been no sincere apology or reflection regarding past school violence offenses," and said, "The candidate himself revealed the fact of school violence in June 2014 on a YouTube channel, making it known to the public."
At the press conference, Jeong declared, "I will become a superintendent of communication and reconciliation." He promised to establish a 'Learning Diagnosis and Healing Center' to precisely diagnose the causes of learning difficulties and provide customized treatment.
He also emphasized plans to form a History Education Committee under the Office of Education and to build a History Education Materials Center to provide credible historical resources. He pledged to push for legal revisions to prevent false accusations against teachers in order to protect teachers' rights.
Early voting for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent by-election will be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 11th and 12th. The main voting will take place on the 16th. Voters can cast their ballots at any early voting station in the Seoul area.
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